Have you ever attempted to write a book?

Yes… I am in the midst of one. A novel,,,set in the mighty US Midwest. It’s taking waywayway longer than I ever thought, but it’s fun, too. So I can’t say I’ve attempted to write a book, I am, I hope, writing a book. I planned somewhat, to keep myself on track, but once you get going, the book/characters/story kind of take over. (If fiction)> I suggest taking time to ‘plan” the Big Worry—the awesome trouble the protagonists is wound up in. And its layers, how it plays out in scenes. Feather it out, so see the elements of the fatal flaw is its been called. Enjoy being you, finding what you are, as you write, even drafts.

No, I haven’t.

yes, but I usually pitter out after the first chapter. :(

I’m thinking of ideas for screenplays. I write down every time something comes to mind. When I have enough information written down about one specific storyline, I’ll start putting it all together and splitting it into acts. I see that happening years from now, though.

Yes, I have bits and pieces of a book written about my drug days (just so I remember the details when I’m ready to publish…40 years from now).

I plan to publish it when I’m a famous, accomplished scientist for the purpose of offering a new perspective about drug use. Drugs aren’t just for the worthless good-for-nothings of society, and they don’t need to be nearly as detrimental to one’s life/health as the war-against-drugs people would like you to think.

I’m excited to share my story of life/career success, despite being a drug user.

me too @ miasmom

I’ve been working on a novel for a number of years.
It’s been slowly coming along.
I don’t think I’m going to try to get it published though. It’s more more for my own benefit and it’s very personal.

I can barely write a coherent letter, and usually even those peter out.

Yes and while I did finish, nothing came of it—my own laziness I’m afraid. Writing another now.

Yes

Oh, I’ve started several novels, but there is one I’m working on now that is coming along quite nicely. The thing that keeps me going is that I’m going to have an editor so when I come to a part and I don’t know how to write it, it comes out very bad, but I know someone will correct it eventually. That way, I can get to the parts I know how to write instead of getting stuck in one spot.

I’m working on a fairly large book but its a series of short stories (think: lemony snicket unfortunate events or chronicles of narnia) . i have lots of notes scribbled out and ideas and things i want to incorporate but my mind hasnt stopped spinning enough for me to get past page 20.

i think its because its not just a book its a huge production. it’s actually going to be a narrated book online, it’ll be shown sorta like a movie but you would be able to record/add notes and bookmark where you left off and other things…

i think my idea of the web production of the book is interfering with just writing the book but its so hard for me to not get excited about the idea! lol

I have tons of ideas, but no motivation. Maybe one day.

Ugh. I’d love to, but it’d take all the coffee in the world to get me to actually finish it.

it maybe doesn’t count, but when i was like 10 i was obsessed with the idea of writing a book, and i wrote like 30some-odd chapters of this cheesy book about junior high (i was still in elementary school), and even started a sequel.
kind of ridiculous.

I have started one about being fat, more of non-fiction commentary really on the humorous side, but as it is at the moment my confidence is in my boots so I’m not writing anything as I just think no-one will like my stuff.

But I will carry on at some point…I…hope….

The other factor is time and I think with anything creative its a bit meditative and you need quite a bit of time to “get in the zone” as such before ideas start to flows and passages of thinking get unblocked…

but maybe i will when my son gets a bit older and i’m a bit more well read, well versed and know what i’m talking about a bit more… dunno….maybe i should just…

JUMP IN!!!

Yup, nonfiction. I just set up a list of chapters and think of them as 15-page essays on a common theme. Four written, three published. Somehow starting the first one was the hardest part. Oh, and the research. Yeah.

Fiction I’ve thought about, started, but never finished. Maybe I ought to try an outline.

@eaglei20200: Is it cricket to ask about the common theme? So, nu, I’m asking.

One was about hiring and training teachers—how’s that for a spellbinder?—arranged step by step. Another was about the power of water as an educative force—just chose a bunch off one-word chapter titles (“Abyss”, “Shore”, “Tall Ships”) as my themes; kind of linked meditations. The third was on a particular historical community—chronologically arranged. The unpublished one is “things you can do to help your kid become more intellectually curious,” with the “things” arranged thematically.

Oh, and I miscounted. There’s a fifth book in press now on “how to be an effective teacher,” from getting hired to gracious retirement, arranged essentially stage by stage.

I taught and was married to a Headmaster for many years, talking about spell-binding. So I am interested in what makes a really wonderful teacher. MY sense was that it wasn’t a learned skill but innate. They were financial dodos, it is true.

—Check out my brother’s wonderful book, Teaching with Your Mouth Shut.

Welcome. Be prepared for some creative spelling, usage, and grammar, and decorative or artistic punctuation.

@gailcalled Think desire and confidence can help make a teacher successful, along with some common sense. I do try to warn off those who don’t like kids and don’t really care about their success; lotsa bad motivation for entering teaching, I think. (A major target audience for the book is administrators who have to train and evaluate teachers.)

Have heard the title—have to check it out.